Your Morning Phil: Rios, Sox, Sveum

Talking baseball while congratulating the Louisville Cardinals for winning one for their horribly injured teammate, Kevin Ware.

1. Growing up in Puerto Rico, Alex Rios idolized Juan Gonzalez. If the White Sox are going to contend this season, they need him to elevate his game and drive in runs like Gonzalez.

There were lots of reasons not to trust Gonzalez. He went on the disabled list at the drop of the hat – once missing half a season with back problems suffered bending down to tie his shoe in spring training – and worried so much about style he once wouldn’t play in a game because his pants did not fit. He made the worst contract decision in history, turning down a $140 million contract extension from the Tigers and opting for a run at free agency, which netted him a one-year deal for $10 million.

Oops. But Gonzalez could hit – both for average and power, and often in clutch spots. He also played a very strong right field in his prime. A lot like Rios.

When Rios was a teenager, Gonzalez was twice named the American League’s Most Valuable Player. It doesn’t seem that Rios believes he can be that kind of player, but that’s exactly what the White Sox need as he hits in front of the aging Paul Konerko and Adam Dunn. Somehow this lineup was fourth in the AL in runs last season, scoring 22 more than the powerful Tigers, but the departure of A.J. Pierzynski raises the demands on everyone.

I asked Rios if he think he’s capable of stepping up his production from a year ago, and he answered with a response about his team.

“We did pretty good last year with the people we had,’’ Rios said. “We played good baseball and competed against good teams. I don’t think we have to do differently (this year). We need to do the same thing we did last year, play as a team.’’

Rebounding from a disastrous 2011, when he changed batting styles constantly and wound up hitting .227 with only 13 home runs, Rios stood taller at the plate in 2012 and turned into the kind of hitter he was in 2006 and ’07, when he was one of baseball’s youngest All-Stars.

Rios finished last season batting .304 while setting career highs with 25 home runs and 91 RBIs. He was the only White Sox player who received MVP votes, finishing 15th. That’s a long way from the Miguel Cabrera-Mike Trout argument but it’s a start.

There’s more talent there, and with this being Rios’ age-32 season, it’s the time to put up maximum numbers. Every team has a guy who is the X Factor, the one who will make the difference between a good years and a bad one, and like it or not Rios is that guy on Robin Ventura’s roster.

I took a second chance at asking Rios if he feels he needs to build on the year he had in 2012.

“I’m going to try to do the same thing I did last year,’’ he said. “My approach is going to be to help the team, obviously, help the team win games, without looking at any individual stuff like that. I don’t want to think about mechanics. Instead focus on my approach and keep doing the same things I’ve been doing up to this point.’’

Rios hates the public discussion of his hitting styles, like the deep crouch he settled into in 2011.

“Hitting is an evolving art,’’ Rios said. “You don’t see any player use the same mechanics all the time. You evolve.’’

For Rios, the ultimate evolution would be to become a player who gets his team over the hump and into the playoffs. Dunn and Rios rank first and fourth, respectively, among active players in games played without a trip to the post-season.

Robin Ventura is smart to hit Rios third this season. He could score 100-plus runs with Dunn and Konerko behind him. I say the arrow is pointing up for Rios on Opening Day.

Here’s a look at some other Chicago players:

Starlin Castro, arrow up – A new father, he seemed happy and ready to go when the Cubs were in Houston over the weekend. It’s a mystery how his batting average slid to .283 last season. I thought he could hit .300 for 10 years in a row. That’s how talented he is. He seemed to be getting himself out less often this spring, and comfortable with Anthony Rizzo and Alfonso Soriano behind him.

Konerko, arrow down – Every time anyone has doubted Konerko, he has answered with a productive season. This season may not be any different but he’s 37 and his deteriorating defensive metrics suggest he has slowed down. He’ll get more rest this year, regardless, with Dunn playing more in the field. That’s probably a good thing for both of them.